diff --git a/src/authentication/gitpodServer.ts b/src/authentication/gitpodServer.ts
index f43357c..fea7485 100644
--- a/src/authentication/gitpodServer.ts
+++ b/src/authentication/gitpodServer.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ async function getUserInfo(token: string, serviceUrl: string, logger: ILogServic
 	};
 }
 
+const ACTION_COPY = 'Copy to clipboard';
+const ACTION_CANCEL = 'Cancel';
+
 export default class GitpodServer extends Disposable {
 
 	public static AUTH_COMPLETE_PATH = '/complete-gitpod-auth';
@@ -76,8 +79,16 @@ export default class GitpodServer extends Disposable {
 			location: vscode.ProgressLocation.Window,
 			title: `Signing in to ${this._serviceUrl}...`,
 		}, async () => {
-			await vscode.env.openExternal(uri as any);
-			// this._logger.trace(">> URL ", uri);
+			const success = await vscode.env.openExternal(uri as any);
+			if (!success) {
+				// Handle the case where the extension can't open a browser window
+				const action = await vscode.window.showWarningMessage('There was a problem opening the login URL in your browser. Please copy it into your browser manually.', ACTION_COPY, ACTION_CANCEL);
+				if (action === ACTION_COPY) {
+					await vscode.env.clipboard.writeText(uri);
+				} else if (action === ACTION_CANCEL) {
+					throw new Error('Signin cancelled by user');
+				}
+			}
 
 			// Register a single listener for the URI callback, in case the user starts the login process multiple times
 			// before completing it.